Experts investigating the crash site of a cargo plane in northern Greece say they have found no evidence of dangerous substances, but say there is still a lot of widespread ammunition.
Serbia’s An-12 cargo plane piloting a Ukrainian aviation crew crashed into fields between two Greek villages on Saturday afternoon (early Sunday morning).
His fuselage was dragged to the ground for 170 meters before disintegrating, authorities said. Locals reported seeing a fireball and hearing explosions for two hours after the crash.
A flame is observed among the wreckage of an Antonov cargo plane in the village of Palaiochori in northern Greece. (Photo AP / Giannis Papanikos) (AP)
Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said at a news conference on Sunday that all eight crew members were killed.
He said the plane was carrying about 10.5 tonnes of Serbian-made mortar ammunition to Bangladesh, which was the buyer.
He had taken off from the Serbian city of Nis and had to make a stopover in Amman, Jordan.
The Joint Special Unit for Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense of the Greek army opened two roads on Sunday for forensic experts to move in before leaving.
The new team went to the site Sunday afternoon picking up body parts. So far it has identified six of the eight crew members and aims to collect their evidence before sunset, authorities say.
This photo of the drone shows where the An-12 cargo plane crashed. (Photo AP / Giannis Papanikos) (AP)
Explosives disposal experts had also begun work on the site, although it looked like they would have to resume work on Monday morning, local authorities said.
Only when they finish their work will the Civil Aviation Authority experts try to retrieve the black box from the plane.
Firefighters and police have created an expanded security perimeter due to the extent of the ammunition.
Residents have been able to leave home early Sunday, but have been told their camps may not be safe to work due to the likely presence of explosives. Nearby dirt roads have been cut off to vehicles.
A column of white smoke was still rising from the front of the plane Sunday morning.
The plane was operated by the Ukrainian cargo company Meridian. The Ukrainian consul in Thessaloniki, who arrived at the scene of the accident, told local officials that the crew was all Ukrainian.
Remains of an Antonov cargo plane are seen at the crash site. (Photo AP / Giannis Papanikos) (AP)
“They were illuminating mortar and training mines (mines) …. This flight had all the necessary permits in accordance with international regulations,” Stefanovic said.
The plane crashed shortly before 11pm on Sunday (6.00am) about 40km west of Kavala International Airport.
Minutes earlier, the pilot had told air traffic controllers that he had a problem with an engine and that he had to make an emergency landing. He was directed to Kavala Airport, but never got there.
The aircraft is a four-engine turboprop cargo carrier of the Soviet era.
The drone images show that the small fragments are all that is left of the plane.
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Firefighters who rushed to the scene Saturday night were unable to reach the crash site due to smoke and an intense odor that they feared could be toxic.
Nearby residents were told to keep the windows closed all night, not to leave their homes and to wear masks.